Improvement in feed-water regulators



UNITED STATES 1PATENT @FFIGE.

EDWARD O. FERNAL1), or FLATBUSH, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN FEED-WATER REGULATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 137,541, dated April 8,1873; application filed January 8, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD G. FERNALD, of the town of I latbush, in thecounty of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Water-Governors for Steam-Boilers; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descriptionthereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to theletters of reference marked thereon making a part of this specification.

The objectof my invention is to provide a sure and perfectwater-governor to be attached or connected to steam-boilers that willgovern the flow of water to the boiler with unerring certainty, and atthe same'time if any disarran gement occurs or accident happens to theforce-pump an alarm will be immediately given, so that the attention ofthe fireman or engineer will be called at once to the fact that his pumpis out of order and not working, thus giving him time and opportunity torepair the difficulty. The nature of my invention consists in the noveland peculiar construction and arrangement of a float upon which thewater in the boiler acts, attached to which is a valve-rod that connectswith a valve, which said valve is operated by the float through themedium of the water, being elevated and lowered as the quantity of wateris varied in the boiler.

Figure I represents a side elevation of my invention, showing a sectionof the different water and steam pipes. Fig. II shows a longitudinalsection of the valve and water seat.

Letters of like name and kind indicate like parts in each of thefigures.

A represents the pipe leading to the watersupply either in a well ortank. The water is brought up through this pipe by means of asuction-pump, which is not shown in the drawing. B represents theorifice of a water-pipe, which said pipe in practice is made to connectwith a pump, which connects with and forces the .water into the boiler.The pipe 0, as shown in the section of the drawing, connects with theboiler below the water-line and conducts the water into thefloat-chamber J. O is a valve made in the form of a hemisphere, on

the upper or spherical side of which is a valveseat, o', upon which fitsthe spherical side of the valve. To this valve 0 is connected avalve-rod, H, which extends upward into the floatchamber and connectswith the float. This float I make of light wood perforated with holes,in such a manner as to make airchambers without destroying the strengthor density of the float, and cover it with thin sheet-copper to preventthe water from penetrating to the wood, and make it as buoyant aspossible. G represents a stirrup that supports and guides the valve-rodH, which keeps it in proper working condition. L represents thesteam-pipe that connects with the steamdome of the boiler, thus giving afree circulation of steam and water in and out of the floatchamber. Nrepresents a rod that connects at its lower end with the valve-rod H,and extends upward, where it connects with an elbow-joint to ahorizontal lever, y, that has a fulcrum on an upright pedestal, I. Theother end of said lever yeonnects with a joint to the valve-stem a, andsaid stem is attached to a valve that operates the steam-whistle E. At Fis represented a sleeve that forms a portionof the valverod H. This saidsleeve is designed for the purpose of adjusting the length of thevalverod, and the said sleeve is secured in its position upon the rod bymeans of setscrews to a.

v The operation of my invention is simple and reliable, as will bereadily seen from the fact that, the rod H being connected with thefloat, when the water in the boiler becomes low, the float settles down,thus carrying with it the rod N, which acts upon the end of the lever y,whose fulcrum is at the pivotjoint on the pedestal I, raises the otherend of the said lever 3 which raises the valve connected thereto, andallows the steam to escape into the whistle, thus giving the alarm thatthe water in the boiler is low, and timely notice for the attendant torepair the difficulty. It'will also be seen that when a sufficientquantity of water has been forced into the boiler the float is raised,which carries with it the valve 0 until the said valve is brought hardto bear upon the seat 2', when all further supply of water is. cut offfrom the boiler, and so remains until the Water begins to get low bybeing carried off in steam, when the float again settles down, whichagain opens the valve, and again allows water to be supplied to theboiler.

By my invention a most perfect feed-water governor and low-water alarmis combined.

Among the advantages of my invention is the fact that it can be readilyapplied to any design of boiler and perform its functions with equalprecision and accuracy at all times, cutting off excessive supplies ofwater to the boiler, and giving an immediate alarm or no- I tice of anylack or want of water, if at any time the pump fails to do its work.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. The water-pipe A provided with valve 0, valve-stem H, and float infloat-chamber J, combined with alarm e and alarm-rod N, all arranged andoperating in the manner set forth.

2. The combination with the valve 0 and float with their connectingvalve-rod H, in two parts, joined by the sleeve F provided withbindingscrews for the ready adjustment of said rod as to length.

3. The alarm-rod N attached to sleeve F, combined with valve-rod H, sothat the adjustment of said rod may be secured Without changing theadjustment of the alarm-rod N.

EDWARD O. FERNALD.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM H. SLOAN, Isnno COLEMAN.

